Shield attachment for picks



A. G. HIGGINS.

SHIELD ATTACHMENT FOR PICKS.

APPL|CATION FILED 1104.21. I919.

1,358,206, Patented Nov. 9,1920.

I d7 an? 6 /531191: WITNESS y- INVENTOR.

A rromv: Y

: of suitable size ALBERT e. HIGGINS, on Kansas cIrY, MISSOURI.

SHIELD ATTACHMENT FOR rIcKs.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

' Application filed January 27, 1919. Serial No. 273,244.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, ALBERT G. HIG INS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson, State of Missouri,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shield Attachmentsfor Picks, of which the following is a full and exact specification.

The present invention relates to digging implements, such as picks,mattocks, and the like, and the primary object in view is to provide ashield member for attachment to such implements for the purposeof'protecting the workman using the tool from the flying particles whichare usually thrown out from the working point of the tool, especiallywhen digging into hard materials like asphalt, cement, ice, and soforth.

It is also soughtto devise a shield attach ment of this character whichwill permit suitable adjustment of the same to suit the individualrequirements of the workman using the tool.

A further object in view is to provide an improved device adapted tofulfil the de sired protecting function while at the same timeinterfering in no way with the proper use of the tool.

With these general objects in view the invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one form ofconstruction which has been devised for embodying the improvement, afterwhich the novel features thereof will be set forth and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figure'l is a perspective view showing the presentimproved shield attachment in its operative relation'to the tool andillustrating the mode of using the same;

Fig. 2 is a side view on an enlarged scale, showing a pick with aportion of its handle broken away and with the, shield attachmentapplied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, but on alarger scale; and

Fig. i is a detail section taken on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 3, and on astill larger scale.

Referring to the said drawing in detail, this shows a pick 5 having thehandle portion 6, to which is applied the present improved shieldelement 7 comprising a plate and shape, suspended by means of wireattaching structure from relation t'o-the rear of of the pick, and mayalso said handle 6. This wire is twisted and shaped to form eyes orloops8 for fitting slidingly and frictionally over the handle 6 and connectedby the spring bowed portion 10, whereby said eyes or loops 8 are held inany given set position on the handle. The end portions 11 of the wireproject downwardly in forked relation through attaching loops or keepers12 formed on one face of the shield plate 7, as shown more clearly inFigs. 3 and 4, the said end portions 11 being formed with a series of Inotches 18 for selective engagement with said keepers 12, wlth whichthenotches 13 areheld in retaining engagement by the outward springaction of the end portions 11 of the wire. By means of this constructionthe shield member is supported by the lower projecting ends of the wirein suspended "the working point be adjusted upward or downward in saidends 11 to the I desired elevation.

The operative character of the device is readily apparent by referenceto the illustration of its use as shown in Fig. 1. The shieldattachment, with the shield plate 7 properly proportioned, affords ameans whereby a protected zone, bounded by the diverging lines A and B,including the upper portion of the workmans body, is formed, withinwhich zone the flying par ticles from the working point of the pick areexcluded. The arrangement of the at taching wire is also such that theposition of the shield plate be set into practically any position bestsuited to the needs of the workman. For example, the device may beshifted to any position along the handle 6by simply compressing thespring bowed portion 10 slightly (which may be done by pres sure at theloops 8 either above or below the handle), and this results in releasingthe grip of the loops 8 on the handle and permitting them to be slideither toward or from the pick 5, after which, by releasing the pressureon the spring bow 10 the said loops 8 are allowed to firmly reengage thehandle. The elevation of the shield adjusted by means of the notches 13and keepers 12, the'notched ends of the wire being pressed together andshifted in either direction through said keepers, this mode ofadjustment being an advantage in regulating the position of the shieldplate as the pick becomes worn. The oval cross-section plate 7 maybeshield element may be obtained.

It will thus be seen thata simple, compact and lnexpenslve devlce isprovided for rulfilling therequired ob ects of the invention,

as the space within the described shielded zone is maintainedpractically free from any of the objectionable flying particles of material, and the workman is obviously enabled to ioperate with far greatercomfort and point thereof; or, protecting device may itself be reversedon safety. -Moreover, the attachment does not after-1t or interfere inany way with the operation of the tool, 'nordoes obstruct the worlnnansview of the working point thereofwhenthe tool is elevated. Again, if heshould desire to operate for any reason with out the use of theprotecting device,- the pick may simply be reversed, using the otherobviously, if preferred, the

the tool'by simply and projecting the posite direction. 7 I

V/hile I have illustrated and described sliding it off the handle shieldportion in the oppermit that portion handle, of a shield providednature.

What 1 now regard as the preferred oi-mot construction for embodying theinvention, 1 desire'to reserve theright to make all such formal changesor modifications as may fairly fall within thescope ofthe appendedclaims. M 7

Having described the invention, what I claim as-new anddesire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a pick having a vith pair or spaced loopsadapted to fit slidingly over said handle, said loops being providedwith a resilient connecting member adapted to yieldingly sprea'dsaidloops into frictional,

engagement with said handle' 2. The combination with handle,

7 a pick having:v of a shield provided with a series of keepers, andmeans for attaching saidsnield to'said pick handle, said attaching meansincluding a pair of downwardly extending spring arms provided with aseries of notches adapted for adjustable engagement with said keepersand maintained in engage ment therewith by the spring action of saidarms. I

In witness'whereof 1 hereto aflix my sig 7 ALBERT mourns.

